He joined the Soviet-run Soyuzmultfilm Studio as an animator in 1937, and became a director in 1959. Khitruk was instrumental in bringing modern graphics to Russian animation and won numerous awards for his short films – including the Golden Palm at Cannes.

A lifelong fan of the art form, Khitruk released a two-volume book, The Profession of Animation, describing his 50 years of experience in 2008. He spent his final years teaching animation at the Moscow Academy.

PARTNER MESSAGE

As tribute, we present his 1968 satire on filmmaking – Film, Film, Film:

May he rest in peace. I only wish I could have learned more about him before he died. My school dropped their Russian program and since I need the language credit, I had to settle for German instead. Since it’s unlikely I’ll ever learn the language, I hope that somebody translates this book and perhaps some other things he wrote.
But beyond my personal worries, I hope he continues to inspire Russian animators and others after his death.

I first met Fyodor at the old NY Animation Festival at NYU in 1974. In years since I’d run into him with Bill and Fini Littlejohn and we’d throw back some vodkas together. He was a wonderful man and a great artist.

GhaleonQ

From a time when artistic merit and populist appeal intertwined! What a man.

Ryan

95’s a good age, but he’ll still be missed. Film Film Film’s been a favourite of mine since seeing it on a Masters of Russian Animation DVD several years ago.